Issue 002

April 2005

Fighters Only magazine was on hand to cover the first-ever UK visit of Pride Middleweight World Champion Wanderlei 'The Axe Murderer Silva and the Chute Boxe team. In London for Cage Rage 10: Deliverance, Chute Boxe left a lasting impression on the UK fans that had everyone hoping they will return soon.

Mini-Wanderlei

There were two Chute Boxe representatives appearing in Cage Rage - Evangelista 'Cyborg' Santos and Jean White Bear' Silva - and both would face top European opponents. Light heavyweight Cyborg sulked around during the weigh-ins and rules meeting, keeping himself to himself but letting a little of the craziness out during his face off with Frenchman Antony Rea. Muttering various insults and challenges in Portuguese, he looked ready to get it on right there, acting every part the miniature Wanderlei he is often described as! In contrast, Jean Silva looked energized for his rematch with Leigh Remedios and confidently told Leigh to remember their last meeting (Jean KO'd Leigh with a massive head kick).

No secrets

For the fans, the weekend began in earnest with a highly successful Chute Boxe seminar. Conducted by Raphael Cordeiro and Rudimar Fedrigo, the two Chute Boxe head coaches taught the trademark techniques we have all come to know by watching any Chute Boxe fighter in action. Alex De Souza (who was bravely fighting later that night on extremely short notice and carrying an injury) did a great job of translating for the coaches. Starting off with some Thai-boxing style striking attacks, the coaches went through a series of techniques that involved clinching and kneeing, before moving on to the ubiquitous flying knee attacks! Staying in the same vein, some funky guard passes and submission setups that involved using soccer kicks were shown that held everyone in awe, before the coaches moved on to some fancy submissions and sweeps from the guard. With Raphael teaching techniques and Rudimar assisting in coaching, the attendees were interested to see how the approach of training with Pride rules in mind could open up a whole new world of possibilities.

Raphael was very approachable throughout the day always smiling and very animated when showing the students how to correctly perform a technique. Rudimar was very helpful yet seemed stern and slightly intimidating-he reminded me of my old PE teacher!

The middleweight megastar arrives

The late arrival of Wanderlei saw the end of the seminar, as everyone rushed to get their cameras and pose for pictures. Silva was busy attending to business in France and was late arriving, and apologized to those at the seminar for being tardy. As soon as he arrived, he was busy posing with fans for photos and signing autographs for the rest of the afternoon.

Even though he has fought in the biggest MMA show on Earth and is literally mobbed when in Japan, he is still very approachable and seems genuinely glad to meet all his fans. More than one lucky fan felt the tight grip of his handshake or the rib-crushing experience that was a hug from the man himself!

Moving downstairs to the main foyer of the Wembley Conference Centre, Silva took up residence in front of the Fighters Only magazine stand, where he posed for many more pictures. It wasn't only the fans that were excited to see him, as more than a couple of the fighters on that night's show could be seen queuing up as well!

While finishing off his seemingly endless round of pictures and autographs, Wanderlei found time to pose for a few exclusive shots with the Fighters Only promo girls. Of course, for such an important figure to be inconvenienced in this way could mean only one thing to be treated to a kiss from our lovely ladies.

Chute Boxe team gets ready for action

Finishing up by signing the Fighters Only T-shirt for our giveaway (see page 41) Wanderlei moved backstage to prepare his fighters for the show. In the corner for both Jean Silva and Cyborg, Wanderlei could be seen shouting advice from cage side and calling out instructions in Portuguese throughout, along with the trademark CB "wheeeys!" whenever a good shot went in.

Obviously disappointed with Cyborg's loss (he spent most of the fight screaming at him to get out of trouble), he gave an in-ring interview with Stephen Quadros immediately after the Cyborg fight. Though his English limited, he commented on how he was happy to be in London for the first time and that he was very impressed with the whole Cage Rage show. He also said how he was disappointed Cyborg lost, but how he thought Rea was very strong and a good opponent.

As a gift for appearing at Cage Rage, the promoters Dave O'Donnell and Andy Geer presented him with an axe with his logo on and a Samurai sword. While Wanderlei was obviously chuffed with his new gifts, I pity the poor soul who has to take them off him at Customs!

After the Chute Boxe fighters had finished for the night, he could be seen milling around the crowd chatting with fans and fighters, though security were brave in repeatedly having to tell him to move seats due to not having the right access pass! He was later seen enjoying the rest of the show from some excellent seats, joined by Raphael, Rudimar and a rather unhappy, yet unscathed, Cyborg.

As far as first visits go, it's clear that Silva enjoyed his time in the UK and he expressed to me after the show his desire to come back one day soon. Is this a cue for UK promoters to start filling up their piggy banks in the hope he might one day fight on our shores? We'll see, but with the hospitality they received, you can guarantee that the Chute Boxe team will be back soon.

Fact file: Wanderlei Silva

  • Weight: 205lbs (93kg)
  • MMA record: 27-4-1 (win-loss-draw)
  • Born: 3 July, 1976
  • Lives: Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
  • Nickname: 'The Axe Murderer'
  • Fight team: Chute Boxe
  • Major awards: Pride GP Champion. Insidefighting.com Fighter of the Year' award for 2004, as well as its 'Fight of the Year' award (with Quinton Jackson) for their October 31st, 2004 title bout at High Octane.
  • Favorite food: Italian food
  • Best thing about being a fighter: The first one is the opportunity to do something in your life that you really enjoy. I love what I do, and the MMA gave me the chance to visit so many different countries, have contact with others cultures and to make a lot of friends around the world
  • Favorite film: The last one of Robert De Niro- I think that the name in English is Meet the Fockers. I liked it, it was funny. Usually I prefer the comedies, I watched a film about sports marketing with Tom Cruise, called Jerry Maguire, which I enjoyed. I have some friends that are helping me in a marketing plan for my career and this movie helped me to understand about this subject, which is very important in the business.
  • Hobbies: Read a good book, have fun with my son Thor and my wife Tea
  • Philosophy in life: Do unto others as you would be done to yourself
  • Proudest moment: The second victory against Sakuraba was very important. I was in Japan, trying to prove that the first win wasn't an accident, and here in Brazil my wife was in the hospital-my son Thor was born when I was there. These were two different feelings: the win the consolidation of my career in Japan in the MMA World and the God blessing with a son, I can tell you, was one of the most important moments of my life.
  • How he would describe himself, if applying for an internet bride: A funny guy, peaceful and very simple, that believes in God 100%
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